Holes Worksheets | PDF | Books - Free Printable

You're working on Worksheet One – Chapters 1–2 for the novel *Holes* by Louis Sachar. Since you’ve uploaded the worksheet (not the actual book or slides), I’ll guide you through how to answer each section based on common knowledge of the book and what students typically learn from the first two chapters.

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✔ The Cover

> *Try to guess what the book is about just by looking at the front cover. Then complete the sentence below.*

I think this book is a story about...

> *A group of boys sent to a harsh, desert-like camp where they are forced to dig holes every day — possibly as punishment or for some hidden purpose. The setting looks barren and lonely, suggesting it’s not a normal summer camp, but more like a juvenile detention center disguised as a camp. The holes in the ground might be clues to a mystery or treasure, and the boy digging could be the main character trying to survive or uncover the truth.*

💡 *Note: If you have the actual book cover, describe what you see — e.g., a boy digging, a desert, a camp, etc. — and make an educated guess. The title “Holes” and the image suggest digging, punishment, mystery, or even metaphorical “holes” in lives or history.*

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✔ The Setting

> *Read the first page of the novel and make a list of all the words or phrases which make Camp Green Lake sound hostile.*

From Chapter 1 of *Holes*, here are key phrases that show Camp Green Lake is hostile:

- “There is no lake at Camp Green Lake.” → ironic and misleading name; suggests deception or decay.
- “It used to be a large, beautiful lake… now it’s a dry, barren wasteland.” → shows environmental destruction and harshness.
- “The only thing there is dirt.” → emphasizes emptiness and desolation.
- “The sun was blazing down.” → extreme heat, uncomfortable, dangerous.
- “The air was so hot it burned your lungs.” → physical discomfort, danger.
- “The camp is surrounded by nothing but desert.” → isolation, no escape, no help.
- “Boys are sent here as punishment.” → implies it’s a place of suffering, not recreation.
- “They dig holes every day.” → repetitive, grueling labor.

📝 Your list might look like:
- No lake
- Dry, barren wasteland
- Only dirt
- Blazing sun
- Air burns your lungs
- Surrounded by desert
- Boys are sent here as punishment
- Dig holes every day

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> *How does Sachar create a sense of tension?*

Louis Sachar creates tension in the opening pages by:

1. Contrasting expectations with reality: The name “Camp Green Lake” sounds peaceful and natural, but the reality is a harsh, dried-up desert. This mismatch creates unease.

2. Using vivid, oppressive descriptions: Words like “blazing,” “burned your lungs,” and “barren wasteland” make the reader feel the heat and danger — physically and emotionally tense.

3. Introducing the idea of punishment: The fact that boys are sent here as punishment (and we don’t yet know why) makes us wonder: What did they do? What will happen to them?

4. Mystery around the holes: Why are they digging? What are they looking for? The lack of explanation builds suspense.

5. Foreshadowing: The narrator mentions Stanley Yelnats’ “no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather” — hinting at family curses or fate, which adds a layer of mystery and impending doom.

📌 Sample Answer:
> Sachar creates tension by using ironic naming (“Camp Green Lake” when there’s no lake), describing the brutal environment with words like “blazing sun” and “burned your lungs,” and hinting at mystery — like why boys are forced to dig holes every day. He also introduces the idea of a family curse, making the reader wonder what terrible things might happen next.

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✔ Final Tips:

- If you’re reading along with *Holes.ppt* (slides 2–4), those likely highlight these same points.
- Always use direct quotes or phrases from the text when possible.
- For the “guess the book” part, it’s okay to be creative — the goal is to practice predicting based on visuals and titles.

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Let me know if you want help with Chapters 3–5 next, or if you’d like to check your answers! 📘⛏️